Apple's new iPhones a slight notch above the X: reviewers

(Reuters) - The absence of a striking new feature left major tech blogs and newspapers lukewarm on the new XS range of Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) iPhones in the first batch of reviews on Tuesday, although most praised the improvements to a wide range of standard features.

The iPhone XS, pronounced “ten S,” and XS Max were launched on Sept. 12. The XS has a 5.8-inch screen, and starts at $999 while the XS Max, the largest iPhone to date has a 6.5-inch screen, with a base price of $1,099.

The phones, however, do possess an advanced chip, which makes the facial recognition feature even smoother. They also have a new image sensor and processor, incremental changes to the X that allow for better photography.

A bright spot in an otherwise low-key upgrade is the dual SIM support, a feature that the company’s much-touted iPhone X did not have. Apple has also included eSIMs, a technology currently in Apple watches and cellular iPads.